How does exercise help with stress?

Any form of exercise from resistance training to yoga and pilates, can act as a stress reliever! No matter where you fit into the scheme of things from athletes to individuals starting, you can use exercise as a form of stress management and boost your energy levels!

Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, but it also has some direct indicators to reduce stress;

Endorphins

Physical activity helps increase the production of your brains feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins! Endorphins act as analgesics, which means they diminish the perception of pain.

Meditation in motion

After an intense game of sport or an intense gym workout, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten about your days irritations and have only concentration on the task at hand. As you begin to rid yourself of these irritations through movement and physical activity and focusing on the single task, this can result in more energy and optimism and can clear your mind for the rest of the day/week!

Mood

Regular exercise can increase self confidence and boost self esteem, resulting in a more relaxtion and can lower the symptoms associated with depression and anxiety! In conjunction with these benefits, exercise can also improve sleep which is distributed by stress in many individuals! All of these benefits can reduce your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your life and your body!